FEEL FREE TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS BELOW OR IN GREATER DETAIL AT THE RAPTORX FORUM FOR BLACK VULTURES 2016. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN REAL-TIME VULTURE NEST CHAT
If you lose live video (which may occur during camera changes), click on the “play” arrow or refresh your screen by clicking on the circular arrow to the right of the URL line.
The Tri-State VultureCam is up and running for 2017. From the 2010 to the 2013 breeding seasons, 6 chicks hatched and another 3 orphans from other locations fledged for a total of 9 fledglings from this nest site. The nest site was not used by vultures during the 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons, and the adult male, tagged #17 in 2013, has not returned. However, an untagged pair took up residence in late February 2016 resulting in two successful fledgings. An untagged pair took up residence again in early February 2017.
One of our long-term research objectives is to determine whether the same pair tends to occupy the shed year after year or if occupancy changes, possibly resulting from some form of competition or due to disturbing the nest site by tagging adults and/or chicks. Another objective of this multi-generational study is to observe ongoing working relationships between family members from year to year.
As in previous years, we are recording selected video and audio from several cameras, 24/7 for research purposes. However, our computer only streams video to this website from one camera at a time. We try to display the most interesting vulture behavior at any given moment. Sometimes the screen goes black after switching cameras. If this happens, you may be able restore the video by refreshing the webpage (by clicking on the circular arrow near the top center of the webpage for Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers). Known technical difficulties preventing viewing will be reported at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bkvu-test-3. Real-time chat regarding nesting activities is also available at this site. Day-to-day narrative and photos of nesting activity is available at RaptorX Forum for vultures, owls, and eagles
Viewing nesting behavior over the Internet, rather than observing the birds directly, avoids activity near the nest that could lead the adults to abandon it. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO LOCATE THE NEST SITE OR APPROACH IT AS DOING SO COULD RESULT IN DEATH OF THE CHICKS AND THE END OF THIS RESEARCH.
Comments from viewers relating to observations of vulture behavior or suggestions for research are most welcome.
Hi Carol,
A lot has happened since I was last here. My intuition told me more must be going on then cameras….lol. So glad to hear the new additions have been adopted. Princess Anne isn’t that far from me. Carol, I will check into the fourm but probably not today, I have a party I have to go to. I have been busy outdoors planting flowers….etc. Oh, I did capture some nice pictures of Three different Canadian Geese families and their Goslings coming to visit our bank the other day. There was over a dozen Goslings. Haven’t seen any BV’s here today or little ones…..maybe they are in front of the sink area……have a great day everyone.
Active times for them and us. 5/18 8:25 a.m.
Chicks were tugging at wires again today. Camera moved, black screen off and on, tilted view, panning or dangling, not sure.
Got a frozen screen with Stevie’s face, but don’t believe Stevie to be the culprit.
BV like to chew and these chicks had a time of it.
A lot of work and time setting them up. Sorry.
Thank you, Bob, for updating us.
More ex*cite*ment this morning. We now have four newly hatched Bluebirds in the Bluebirds 2 nest.
The black vulture nest in Northern Delaware being monitored by Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research now features three fluffy tan chicks and two attentive adults. This year, two eggs were laid in early March, but only one chick survived the strenuous 30+ hour hatching process. With help from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, one of the adults was given a bright yellow wing tag (#17) on May 6th. Shortly thereafter, two black vulture chicks from Princess Anne MD, which were orphaned when the barn where they hatched was torn down, were brought to Tri-State. These chicks were successfully renested with the vulture family being monitored by Tri-State. All three chicks are now being cared for by the adults and are snuggling together at http://chimneyswifts.net/tristate/?page_id=294 .
Hawk Mountian Sanctuary’s wing tags are readable on vultures soaring overhead or perched in trees. Reporting sightings throughout the year of any tagged vultures would be greatly appreciated, especially for the newly tagged yellow #17. A web page has been created for this purpose at http://chimneyswifts.net/tristate/?page_id=608 . We are hoping to tag the other adult and all three chicks next month as part of our multi-generational study of this species.
Also available at Tri-State’s “Black Vultures & Friends” website is live video, courtesy of Mike Postolan, of chimney swift, bluebird, and tree swallow nests. Activity at the swift nest has been recorded and streamed live over the Internet for several years and appears to be the only chimney swift nest followed live online. These swifts have been seen mating this year, but the nest is not yet constructed. Remarkable video depicting their “Life on the Edge” from previous years is available at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/glenhamny-swifts . The tree swallows have not built their nest yet, but both bluebird nests have activity, one with 5 baby birds and the other with 5 eggs.
Hope you’re not missing any of this, Fran. Waiting for you on Forum.
Greg,
Your comments from a couple days ago are possibly awaiting moderation, it happens!
Congratulations again. Will look for photos and story of the new arrivals.
Just returned to this glorious surprise – a gift to our T-S Chick and to all of us. Thank you, Tri-State, for your extraordinary efforts on the part of the avian world that we love so much — and your recognition of the plight of so many parts of that world. I am truly grateful.
We may not be able to enjoy our little Black Vulture nestling quite yet, but we do have two newly hatched beautiful Bluebirds, observed first at 7:39 A.M. Am posting pictures to Forum. Noticed pips in two eggs last night and early this morning. Much more to come.
HELLO ALL, finally some good news to report. We will be going back online streaming live tomorrow morning. Something you should know we did make some minor technical adjustments and hope the interruptions will be minimal. But the real reason for going off line for a few days was to introduce two new baby vultures to the nest and the adults to the chicks. On May 7 Tri State Bird Rescue received two baby vultures from Princess Anne Md. The barn they were in was torn down and there was not a suitable place to re nest them. Since they were about the same age, a bit larger actually, the clinic at TSBR decided it was an opportune time and the best chance for these two babies. On May 12 the two newbie’s were introduced to the nest and over the past several days they have been monitored closely. If at anytime the newbie’s or the younger chick was in danger or not being fed regularly they would be pulled. The good news is they are all getting along well and the parents are feeding all three. You may notice the leg tags red and yellow on the newcomers. Enjoy the new additions and keep your observations coming. Special thanks to Aimee and the rest of the staff at Tri State Bird Rescue.
HELLO EVERYONE, Wed. 5/15/13 8:45PM Thank you for your patience over the past several days. We will be going back online streaming live on Friday 5/17/13. We think you will enjoy the improvements. Additional comments will be posted tomorrow. Stay tuned! Some of you know Bob B. is out of town. I’ll monitor as much as I can until his return. Speak to you tomorrow.
Greg Keegan
Maintenance supervisor
Tri State Bird Rescue & Research
Newark, De. 19711
Hi all,
Greg, one of many hats, we patiently await the cam on air.
Hope someday to hear your thoughts on the tagging of #17.
Did BV make sounds? Any projectiles?
Hi Greg, Hi NY Mike, software and all tech people,
5/15
7:30 a.m. human female was seen cleaning kitchen.
early activity, not seen a lot lately in the area.
Thoughts for the morning.
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
? Leonardo da Vinci
Additional highlights from 5/14.
Honorable mention, for the record.
I am absolutely sure that it was female who
pecked and cleaned feeding area.
Female saved a turtle from centerline of road.
It was female who napped in the car and it was the male who
provided food to female.
Male was active all day, driving to and fro along Route 9.
5/14 Highlights of v-cube off air day.
6:25 a.m. rolled out of bed
6:45 a.m. went back to bed.
8:12 a.m. both humans leave house
10:37 a.m. feeding
11:15 a.m. approx. human naps in the car
spotted about 40 TV today, no BV
6:10 p.m. human feeding
7:30 p.m. human pecking and cleaning feeding area.
8:00 p.m. preening
9:35 p.m. keeping watch for on air.
10:00 p.m. human will tuck in.
Highlights.
human checked cam 5 times today, twice early, three times in the evening. Copied a couple photos to forum…
Hello Greg,
Word to you and techies, Good luck! We appreciate your efforts.
As to any trollish commentary, it is outside of our group and will be avoided, respectfully.
We V-cube are working hard too. Catching up on chores!
5/13 1:32 p.m. Yardsville.
Chilly weather in North Delaware today. Highs low 50?s. Cloudy with wind gusts. Chance of rain nearly every day this week, by week end high will be near 80.
Cutting grass, one eye to the sky. Quiet birding day. Haven’t seen BV, TV or even a hawk. One lonely robin, odd that.
Hi Fran!
In addition to the RRP forum, BV chick cam has a ustream page.
We are using it for documenting events and happenings in the nest.
Feedings, shift changes, all the way back to egg rolls and any other activity we/they happen upon.
Hops, flaps, preening and any new activities. Food drop from one adult to another, beak nuzzling, it gets documented. If you ever see something and want to add it, please do. Sometimes we get multiple entries, all the better.
Have a great day, high hopes we see the BV’s soon! Later.
Back to yardsville.
5/13 1:32 p.m. Yardsville.
Chilly weather in North Delaware today. Highs low 50’s. Cloudy with wind gusts. Chance of rain nearly every day this week, by week end high will be near 80.
Cutting grass, one eye to the sky. Quiet bird day. Haven’t seen BV, TV or even a hawk. One lonely robin, odd that.
Great news, Fran. “On Eagle Wings” looks forward to seeing you there and to your moderated comment here. I’ve also opened a thread on the Chimney Swifts, and if you have any interest in African wildlife, I have a couple there as well. But there are so many, many to explore, along with their respective online live cams.
I have a comment awaiting “moderation”. It was to you Carol. I registered….. will check later to see if approved. Thank you.
Hello Carol,
Ok, I have registered on the link you gave me ……and Lynn also. Not sure exactly what I was doing wrong….so I will check email later to see.
And, Carol….your welcome for the reminder…hehe…
Greg, we promise you silence and look forward to the improvements. Now I know what my husband, a computer field engineer, goes through and very often from the home front.
Fran, we really knew that but just did not want to admit it. Thanks for reminding us that we are sufferers of “bird obsessive syndrome.” It’s rampant on Forum and so you might want to give joining a second thought. Anyway, good to “see” see you again.
Thank You Greg. Appreciate you checking in. Now we know. Good luck!
Carol, Lynn, Bob and Greg,
I believe I may be able to diagnose one problem and that would be “Vigilant Vulture Viewer Withdrawal”. Lol. Looking forward to the new important adjustments…. and good luck with all of that…I would need the patience of a Saint to deal with the technical computer things. Have a great Sunday.